Flashcard: Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation

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What are trade winds?

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Steady winds that flow from east to west between 30°N latitude and 30°S latitude.

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What causes upwelling in the ocean?

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Upwelling is caused by winds that blow on the ocean's surface.

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What is a surface current?

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A wind-driven current that carries ocean water horizontally across the ocean's surface.

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What are the steady winds between the equator and 30° latitude known as?

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Trade winds.

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What is upwelling?

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The vertical movement of water toward the ocean's surface.

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What is the Coriolis effect?

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A phenomenon where the rotation of Earth causes moving air and water to appear to move to the right in the Northern hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

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What are prevailing westerlies?

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Winds that blow from west to east between 30° and 60° latitude.

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What is the difference between surface currents and deep ocean currents?

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Surface currents are wind-driven and move horizontally, while deep ocean currents are driven by differences in water density and move vertically.

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What role do ocean currents play in climate?

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Ocean currents help regulate temperatures by distributing heat around the planet.

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What is the Gulf Stream?

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A warm ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico along the eastern coast of the United States.